Common names

Horse chestnut, Common horse chestnut, Conker tree

Description

Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut). This is an ornamental tree, with large leaves. The flowers are upright and colourful, and they will appear in panicles from mid to late spring. This species is a very popular ornamental tree but it should only be grown in spacious landscape settings. They will produce a debris of large leaves, flowers and spiny seed pods and this should be taken into account when planting.

Cultivation

They are fully to frost hardy and will require sun or semi-shade in fertile well drained soil.

Interest and use

Ornamental, foliage, shade, specimen. Children use the seeds of this species to play 'conkers'.